Tagged: cbssports.com

Louisville is prepared to spend whatever it takes to keep Charlie Strong. Not that Strong is thinking about leaving anytime soon. Strong's name has come up as a potential replacement at Arkansas, but comments made by the coach and his athletic director would suggest he might not be an option.

Bobby Petrino clearly wants to get back into coaching. He didn't discuss a return to the field in great detail during his first-sit down interview since his April 10 firing, but his comments left the impression that is what the interview was primarily about for him. Below we round up regional and national media reaction to the interview. What did writers outside the state think of his performance and, perhaps more importantly to Petrino, is he hireable?

Knile Davis’ offseason strength and conditioning numbers showed off a rare blend of size and speed. As noted here previously, the 6-foot-2, 226-pound running back runs as fast as the team’s wide receivers. He’s as strong as Razorback defensive tackles. Davis, who reportedly ran the team’s fastest 40-yard dash with Top 5 bench and squat numbers, is one of 10 players noted as “freaks” by CBSSports.com college football analyst Bruce Feldman.

There are a number of reasons that Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino and Athletic Director Jeff Long wanted the Razorbacks' season finale against LSU to be played in Fayetteville. Recruiting hasn't been mentioned prominently, but is a major reason for the move. That reasoning hasn’t escaped the notice of Tony Barnhart, national football columnist for CBSSports.com. Barnhart, known as Mr. College Football, was on the Tim Brando Show and offered his thoughts on the venue swap.

Arkansas will send recruiting coordinator Tim Horton and other assistants to Springfield, Mo., tonight for an in-home visit with 5-star wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. It was thought that Coach Bobby Petrino would visit Green-Beckham (6-6, 225), but he will not because of a brief encounter earlier this month with the Parade and USA Today All-American.

Cobi Hamilton figures to see increased involvement in the Arkansas offense this year. Defenses will be keeping an eye on Hamilton. So will NFL Draft Scouts. Consider where CBS/NFLDraftScout.com has Hamilton ranked among 2013 prospects.

Gus Malzahn to Arkansas State is happening. Malzahn, the Auburn offensive coordinator, will be named the Red Wolves head coach at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. A press conference is set for the ASU Convocation Center. Before the official announcement, the move already has garnered regional and national media reaction. Below we offer a Speaking Out roundup of reaction to Malzahn’s move:

Arkansas State’s season is not going unnoticed nationally. A couple of national college football writers have taken note of what the Red Wolves have accomplished in 2011. They enter Saturday’s game against Troy with a chance at 10 wins and having already clinched at least a portion of the Sun Belt title and GoDaddy.com Bowl invite.

Like many a fan base, Arkansas supporters often perceive a lack of respect from the outside world. They think the Razorbacks aren’t revered in the same way as Alabama or LSU or Oklahoma. Outkick the Coverage columnist/founder/rabble rouser Clay Travis thinks that position isn’t too far fetched. Travis, himself guilty at the occasional overlooking and undervaluing of Arkansas wonders in a recent column why the third-ranked Razorbacks aren’t getting more love entering Saturday’s game with No. 1 LSU.

Arkansas finds itself in the BCS national title conversation entering its final regular season game of the year. No. 1 LSU hosts the No. 3 Razorbacks on Friday at 1:30 p.m. A potential spot in the championship game is on the line. No. 2 Alabama is also in the conversation. Here’s what national outlets are saying about Friday’s game and the role the Razorbacks play in determining the representatives in what could be a all-SEC championship game.

Typically, technical fouls are frowned upon. It’s not something a coach or crowd wants to see their team endure. But there’s nothing typical about the “toilet paper” game at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. Every year students shower the court with rolls of toilet paper after the home team’s first score of the season. Their act results in a technical, but nobody minds.

Rotnei Clarke will take an official visit to Butler, according to a report. Clarke, who was granted a release from Arkansas earlier this month, is also considering Oklahoma and Virginia. Butler has been to consecutive national championship games, losing to Duke and UConn.

Rotnei Clarke would like to leave Arkansas and doesn’t want to play for Mike Anderson, according to a report on CBSSports.com. Clarke asked for a release in April after John Pelphrey was fired. He met with Anderson and agreed to stay, but has since decided he doesn’t want to remain with the program for his senior season.

After months of taking a beating from the national press, Ryan Mallett seems to have some defenders. Recent articles paint Mallett in a different light than before and explain how rumors and innuendo are just part of today's draft process.

Coach John Pelphrey has endured plenty of trouble during his time at Arkansas. And now, the fourth-year coach is dealing with a national story regarding a recruiting violation with Sylvan Hills’ Archie Goodwin, one of the nation’s top prospects. CBSSports.com reports Pelphrey violated NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.1.

National outlets are either making there way to NWA or have already arrived for No. 1 Alabama at No. 10 Arkansas. Stories about the matchup – particularly Arkansas — have been popping up online and in newspapers throughout the week. Below we offer a sampling: